“Provincial money ends for Ring of Fire talks as Matawa chiefs await response, negotiator says — The lead negotiator for the chiefs of Indigenous communities closest to the Ring of Fire says they’re still waiting to hear back from the provincial government about how talks will look going forward. That comes as Bob Rae says money committed by the province since 2013 that funded a number of initiatives through the regional framework agreement between Ontario and the nine member communities of the Matawa Tribal Council ran out at the end of October …” (CBC)

Micro-nuke power plants could help #RoF??? “Canadian Nuclear Association welcomes the Canadian SMR Roadmap … The Roadmap outlines the potential applications for SMRs in Canada, which include providing clean and reliable electricity and heat to smaller and/or remote communities such as in Canada’s north; clean process heat and electricity for resource industries such as Ontario’s Ring of Fire mining and Alberta’s oil sands; and clean electricity to existing power grids, particularly those needing clean energy to replace fossil fuels (e.g. coal) for their base-load electricity generation …” (Association news release)

The smelter hunt continues “Mining firm Noront Resources is still trying to decide between Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins as a location for a new $1 billion ferrochrome smelter. On Wednesday, the newly elected mayor of Timmins, George Pirie, along with the local MP Charlie Angus and MPP Gilles Bisson met with Noront officials in Toronto. “The purpose of our meeting was very simple. It was to make sure that they understand that the people in the City of Timmins are all working together, the mayor, council and myself and Charlie, towards what is hopefully a positive decision for Noront to site their new ferrochrome facility in Timmins. We have a lot of stuff going for us and we just wanted to make sure they understand we are all working together and whatever we can do to help, we will be there to stand behind the City of Timmins together in order to try to make this a reality.” said Bisson …” (CTV News)

According to event announcements & a GoFundMe page, Neskantaga and Eabametoong First Nations are holding a fundraising event (themed “Into the Ring with (ON Premier Doug) Ford”) at Ryerson University the evening of 9 November.

Proceeds of the minimum $10/person donation will reportedly be given to the First Nations to “help pay for legal support, fund meetings in the territory to strengthen alliances, and build capacity to mount a public campaign to stop unwanted development on their territories.” As of this post, the GoFundMe portion of the fundraiser has collected $680 out of a total of $5,000 being sought.

The GoFundMe page is attributed to Yumi Numata, which a LinkedIn profile matching this name identifies as “Communications and Development Coordinator – Yellowhead Institute & Faculty of Arts” at Ryerson. There is also a reference to “Yellowhead” on the GoFundMe entry.

The Yellowhead Institute, whose executive director is Dr. Hayden King, describes itself online as “a First Nation-led think tank rooted in community networks and committed to Indigenous self-determination” and “a First Nation-led research centre based in the Faculty of Arts at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario. Privileging First Nation philosophy and rooted in community networks, the we offer critical and accessible resources for communities in their pursuit of self-determination. We also aim to foster education and dialogue on First Nation governance across fields of study, between the University and the wider community, and among Indigenous peoples and Canadians.”